Young Defence Scientists Programme 2026: STEM Pathways for IP Boys & Girls
Download printable cheat-sheet (CC-BY 4.0)19 Sep 2025, 00:00 Z
TL;DR
YDSP offers IP and JC students a pipeline from exploratory camps to defence scholarships. Build coding, electronics, and research communication skills now to stand out during the 2026 intake.
1 Programme Overview
- Organiser: Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), with MINDEF support.
- Tracks: Science & Engineering Camp, World of Science, YDSP Scholarship & A*STAR/DSTA internships. (DSTA YDSP)
- Target cohort: Sec 4 IP, JC1 students with strong STEM aptitude and interest in defence technology.
1.1 Why it matters
- Provides mentorship by defence engineers and exposure to cutting-edge labs.
- Acts as a feeder to DSTA/MINDEF scholarships and internships. (MINDEF speech, 25 Apr 2025)
2 Application Timeline & Structure (2026)
| Stage | Period | Highlights | Action items |
| Applications open | Oct–Nov 2025 | Online submission with personal essay & teacher endorsement | Compile STEM portfolio, pre-populate application form |
| Shortlisting | Dec 2025 | Aptitude assessments, interviews | Practise coding challenges (C++/Python), prepare project showcase |
| Camps / attachments | Mar–Jun 2026 | Residential camps, labs (AI, cybersecurity, aerospace) | Pack lab journal, capture learning artefacts |
| Congress & scholarship briefings | Aug 2026 | Present project, attend scholarship talks | Finalise poster deck, rehearse 3-minute pitch |
Reference: YDSP 2024 factsheet
3 Competency Grid
| Skill | Expectation | Preparation tips |
| Programming | Comfort with Python/C++; ability to prototype algorithms | Complete NOI/Bebras drills, practise data-structure problems |
| Electronics & fabrication | Basic circuit design, microcontroller tinkering | Build Arduino projects, document on GitHub/blog |
| Research & presentation | Formulate hypothesis, analyse data, defend conclusions | Join school research clubs, practise poster storytelling |
| Teamwork & leadership | Collaborate under time pressure, contribute ideas | Volunteer as team lead in STEM clubs or hackathons |
4 Portfolio Packaging
- Project logbook: Record objectives, iterations, failures, and learnings during camp experiments.
- Poster & pitch: Summarise outcomes visually; rehearse answers on defence applications and ethical considerations.
- Reflection essay: Capture personal growth, team dynamics, and future aspirations.
- Skills audit: Map competencies to scholarship requirements (DSTA Scholarship, SAF Engineering Scholarship).
5 Extending the Runway
- Apply YDSP experience to DSTA/A*STAR internships during JC2 or university breaks.
- Repackage projects for competitions such as SSEF or the Global Space Design Challenge.
- Reference mentors in scholarship interviews—highlight technical depth and national defence motivation.
6 Support Stack & CTA
6.1 Key references
6.2 CTA
- Download our YDSP readiness audit (skills checklist + timeline).
- Join the YDSP coding & hardware bootcamp (Dec 2025 intake) to sharpen competencies before selection.
- Book a mock interview session to rehearse personal motivation, technical problem-solving, and defence ethics questions.
